Their boss, acting chief inspector Robin Sissons, described the scene near Orange Grove, Wisbech, as an incident “that has challenged the officers of Fenland.

“When they arrived at the scene, not only were there multiple victims with potentially life threatening injuries that needed to be cared for. There were also multiple offenders to be arrested and different crime scenes to be protected.”

Chief Insp Sissons said: “ This all happened on a Saturday night when calls for service is at its highest.

“My officers were highly professional and dedicated (all of them worked long hours).”

He added that he was “particularly grateful to the Special Constabulary for their extraordinary enthusiasm that they showed. I am really proud of them all”.

* A man and a woman have been charged with stabbing two men in Wisbech and will appear in court in the morning at Kings Lynn.

Two victims remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition. A third was released from hospital after treatment.